August 29, 2013

Footwear Finds and Favorites at Magic Market Week

Now that I have four seasons of MAGIC Market Week under my belt, I'm getting the hang of things and each season gets more productive for me. While I make it a priority to attend trend forecasting and fashion marketing seminars, I also make it a point to visit the booths of favorite brands and discover new ones. If you're a regular reader or Instagram follower (@thekeytochic), then it's no secret that I'm a footwear addict. Shoes always have been and will be my main point of weakness when it comes to personal style and shopping. So you can imagine how delighted I am to walk the floor at FNPlatform, which is basically shoe heaven. This season at Magic Market Week, I spent a few days scouting fall 2013 and spring 2014 footwear trends. Here I'll be sharing eight footwear brands and the trends that I got up close with at FNPlatform. Firstly is up-and-coming brand Alejandra G., whose eye-catching designs are best reserved for statement-making trendsetters. Vertiginous heels, bold prints, and mixed materials are her trademark, and her unforgettable offerings left me feeling bored with the low-heeled ankle boots I wore that day.

Amazonas is a Brazilian footwear brand that brings playful printed insoles to the flip flop market. These colorful styles scream beach or pool day to me, and all that's missing is a bright beach towel, fun swimsuit, and a neon pedicure. I love how some of their shoes are eco-friendly in that the soles decompose in five years. How fun are all of these prints? Now I don't want summer to end!

Luichiny, Bronx, and Diba True is always a fun booth to visit due to the wide array of on-trend styles they have on display. Here's the scoop on these three lines: Luichiny is a brand that I count on for ultra high heels and youthful styling, Bronx is amazing when it comes to comfortable and trendy ankle boots, while Diba True excels at trendy sandals and sneakers. I always seem to find multiple pieces to put on my shopping wish list, such as these Luichiny holographic oxfords (below on the right) and buckled ankle boots by Bronx (on the lower left). The sporty lug sole, a key new trend for 2013-2014 footwear is done by Luichiny in a cheerful two-color fabrication below on the left.

Cristófoli is a new brand to me, and I'm glad I was introduced to their line because I immediately gravitated toward their beautiful Baroque-inspired uppers (which came in three different styles from low heel to high heel) and metallic heeled sandals. Their collection had a sophisticated edge with quality craftmanship, all the while giving a youthful nod to trends, which I appreciated.

Santa Barbara-based company Koolaburra is a personal favorite and a brand that I've featured before, so I know what to expect from them: quality materials, comfort, a nod to Western details such as fringe, and an array of pretty embellishments. The studded ivory ankle boot with the cutout heel really caught my eye, as did the Western stitching on the sneaker wedges. These are the kind of shoes that beg to be worn at music festivals, with floaty summer dresses, and paired with denim for a boho vibe.

Michael Antonio's booth is a feast for the eyes. The various lines (such as MA by Michael Antonio and Michael Antonio Studio) each cater to a different customer demographic, and I always manage to fall in love many styles from each line. So what trends are they creating for fall 2013 and spring 2014? Cage heels, embellished ankle boots, and studs stood out to me. What about the black zip ankle boots on the lower left? The top portion actually zips off so you can get two looks in one shoe.

Brazilian brand Schutz is a blogger favorite and with good reason. Quality craftsmanship combined with sexy heels and on-trend fabrications make them a brand to watch. I spied so many styles that would be right at home in my closet. Cage booties, invisible wedges, metallic flatforms, woven uppers, and studded ankle boots rounded out the mix. The gorgeous selection left me hard pressed to find a favorite (there were so many).

No visit to MAGIC Market Week is complete without a peek into the Volatile USA booth. Their various lines (such as Volatile, Very Volatile, and Volatile Kicks) offer everything from mixed material ankle boots (which I always swoon over) and strappy wedges to floral print oxfords and bold wedges. I especially love the metallic heels on the lower right, as the mesh uppers add an unexpectedly sporty feel to the glamorous silhouette.

So there you have it! Shoe heaven! To recap, some of the major footwear trends for fall 2013 and spring 2014 that I spotted include: metallics and holographic uppers, woven details, bright floral prints, embellished ankle boots, sporty shapes and lug soles, single sole heels, cage heels, and flatforms. See anything you like? Got any favorites? Let me know what you're excited to wear next spring!

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